What to Do in Case of Hurricane

7/31/2019 What to Do in Case of Hurricane

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C R E AT E D B Y @ S U K H S A N D H U 1



GATHER INFORMATION


• Assess your risks and know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.

• Contact your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency managementoffice.

• Get updates from The Weather Channel, weather.com or your local TV or radio station.

• Download an application to your smartphone that can notify people where you are, and if you need

help or are safe.• Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond.

• Know if you live in an evacuation area.

• Learn evacuation routes. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you neede

d to evacuate.



GATHER INFORMATION


• Talk to your family about hurricanes.

• Plan a place to meet your family in case you are separated from one another in a disaster.

• Choose an out-of-state contact for everyone to call to say they are okay.

• Determine the needs of family members who may live elsewhere but need your help in a hurricane.Consider the special needs of neighbours.

• Prepare to survive on your own for at least three days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit. Include a battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, clothing and food andwater.

• Make plans to protect your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8" marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install.

Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.



GATHER INFORMATION


• Know how to shut off utilities. Know where gas pilots are located and how the heating and air-conditioning system works.

• Have your home inspected for compliance with local building codes. Many of the roofs destroyed by hurricanes were destroyed because they were not constructed according to building codes.

• Consider flood insurance.

•

Make a record of your personal property. Take photographs of or videotape your belongings.



GATHER INFORMATION


Keep a list of contact information for reference.

Local Emergency Management OfficeCounty Law EnforcementCounty Public Safety Fire/RescueState, County and City/Town GovernmentLocal HospitalsLocal Utilities

Local Red CrossLocal TV StationsLocal Radio StationsYour Property Insurance Agent



ACT QUICKLY


• Learn the location of the nearest shelter or nearest pet-friendly shelter.

• Put an ax in your attic in case of severe flooding.

• Evacuate if ordered and stick to marked evacuation routes, if possible.

• Store important documents -- passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, deeds -- in a watertight container.

• Have a current inventory of household property.

• Leave a note to say where you are going.



BEFORE THE STORM HITS


• If you are traveling, find safe shelter immediately.• If you are at home or at work:

Only stay in a home if you have NOT been ordered to leave. Stay inside a well constructed building.

In structures, such as a home, examine the building and plan in advance what you will do if winds become strong. Strong windscan produce deadly missiles and structural failure.Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and open only when necessary.Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities.Turn off propane tanks.Unplug major appliances.Fill large containers with water.

• If winds become strong:

Stay away from windows and doors even if they are covered. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway.Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors.If you are in a two-story house, go to an interior first-floor room, such as a bathroom or closet.If you are in a multiple-story building and away from the water, go to the first or second floors and take refuge in the halls or other interior rooms away from the windows.Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.Remain indoors during the hurricane. Do not be fooled by the "eye" or the lull that occurs as the storm center moves overhead.The other side of the hurricane "eye" has winds that will rapidly increase and will come from the opposite direction.



BEFORE THE STORM HITS


• Have disaster supplies on hand

Flashlight and extra batteriesPortable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries

First aid kit and manualEmergency food and water Nonelectric can opener Essential medicinesCash and credit cardsSturdy shoes

• Make sure your windows are protected and your home is secured.

• Check your disaster supplies kit. Make sure you have water, non-perishable food, medications and don't forget that non-electric can opener.

• Clean containers for cleaning water. Line the bathtub with plastic sheeting or a clean shower curtain, or caulk the drain with silicone caulking — it holds water for weeks and cleans up easily when dry. Plan on three gallons per person, per day for all uses (including flushing the toilet).



WHEN THE STORM HITS


• If you are traveling, find safe shelter immediately.• If you are at home or at work:

Only stay in a home if you have NOT been ordered to leave. Stay inside a well constructed building.

In structures, such as a home, examine the building and plan in advance what you will do if winds become strong. Strong windscan produce deadly missiles and structural failure.Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and open only when necessary.Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities.Turn off propane tanks.Unplug major appliances.Fill large containers with water.

If winds become strong:

Stay away from windows and doors even if they are covered. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway.Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors.If you are in a two-story house, go to an interior first-floor room, such as a bathroom or closet.If you are in a multiple-story building and away from the water, go to the first or second floors and take refuge in the halls or other interior rooms away from the windows.Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.Remain indoors during the hurricane. Do not be fooled by the "eye" or the lull that occurs as the storm center moves overhead.The other side of the hurricane "eye" has winds that will rapidly increase and will come from the opposite direction.




• If an EVACUATION is ordered by local government officials “do so! The temptation to "tough it out" can put lives at risk - yours and the personnel who may be sent on an otherwise avoidable rescue mission.

• Follow the instructions and advice of local government officials. If you are advised to evacuate, do so promptly. If you are advised to g

o to a certain location, go there. Do not go anywhere else.• If certain travel routes are advised, use those routes rather than trying to find short cuts. If you are told to shut off water, gas or electric

al service to your home before leaving, do so. Also, find out from the broadcast reports where emergency housing and feeding stationsare located, in case you need to use them.

• Leave as soon as officials instruct that you do to avoid being marooned on flooded highways.

• Make certain you have enough fuel for your car.

• As you travel, keep listening to the radio for additional instructions.

• Watch for washed-out roads, earth slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires and falling or fallen objects.

• Watch out for areas where rivers or streams may flood suddenly.

• Do not try to cross a stream or pool of water unless you are certain that the water wil l not be over your knees, or above the middle of the wheels of your car, all the way across. Sometimes the water wil l hide a bridge or part of a road that has been washed out. If you do decide it is safe to cross, put

your car in low gear and drive very slowly to avoid splashing water into your engine and causing it to stop. Also, remember that your brakes may not work well after the car has been in deep water. Try them out a few times when you reach the other side.




• Those with special medical needs (oxygen, etc.) should go to special needs shelters only. Special needs shelters do not provide hands-on medical care, only medical monitoring. Bring a caregiver with you if needed.

• Only service animals are permitted in public shelters.

• Eat before you arrive. Meals may not be available during the first 24 hours. Bring snacks.

• Bring your identification, valuable papers and medications in their original containers.

• Bring baby supplies.

• Bring blankets/sleeping bags, pillows. Those are either not provided or limited in supply.

• Bring cards/games/books to pass the hours.

• Bring flashlights and a battery operated radio or TV with extra batteries for all.

• Stay inside and follow directions that are given for your comfort and safety.

• You will not be allowed outside until the official "all clear."



AFTER THE STORM HITS


• Remain indoors until an official "all clear" is given.

• Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in/near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines.

• USE PHONES ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES. Call emergency LINE only for life-threatening situations.

• Call police or utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains, overturned gastanks, etc.

• Watch for weakened roads, bridges, tree limbs or porches which could collapse unexpectedly.

• After power is restored, check refrigerated food for spoilage. (Spoiled food is the cause of much sickness two days to a week after the s

torm.)

• When reinstalling a CB, TV or satellite antenna, check in all directions to be sure no power lines are nearby. The same goes for climbing trees to clear debris.

• Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.



AFTER THE STORM HITS


• Return home only after authorities advise that it is safe to do so.

Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.Enter your home with caution.

Beware of snakes, insects, and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents and for insurance claims.Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges. Use telephone only for emergency calls.



REFERENCES:


Almost all the Information is from the following resources:

• National Weather Services and• Federal Emergency Management Agency.• CNN recommendations• Live Science

Read more Information from:

CNN : http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/27/us/hurricane-preparation/index.html Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/3817-hurricane-preparation.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/27/us/hurricane-preparation/index.html

http://www.livescience.com/3817-hurricane-preparation.html












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About the writer: Sukh is a qualified BCA, PGDCA, MSC (IT) and Masters in Information Technology fromUniversity of Ballarat (Australia) and also pursuing PhD in Computer and Information Sciences and SupportServices and MBA from Amity University. He started his career at age of 15 as Web designer & developer witha USA based organization.


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What to Do in Case of Hurricane

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